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Reports: Potential Steelers First-Rd WR Option ‘Bombed’ Combine Interviews
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- Reports: Potential Steelers First-Rd WR Option ‘Bombed’ Combine Interviews
Makai Lemon, Katie Chin / USC Athletics
One of the top wide receiver prospects potentially available to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2026 NFL Draft might be seeing his draft stock fall after a shaky off-the-field performance at the 2026 NFL Combine.
USC wide receiver Makai Lemon did not perform athletic testing at the combine in Indianapolis this week, instead choosing to wait for the USC pro day to put down times in the 40-yard dash, three-cone and shuttle runs.
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That in of itself might some eyebrows, but probably wouldn't have hurt Lemon's stock, but apparently, his efforts in the meeting rooms of Indiana Convention Center did.
According to multiple reports, Lemon "bombed" his interviews with teams at the combine, and while specific details have not come out about what went wrong, his podium interview with members of the assembled media drew some eyes, as well.
He didn't say anything objectionable, but clips of his unusual body language went viral on social media.
Lemon is widely considered to be a first-round lock and his draft status has seemed secure since the fall, when he broke out with a 1,156-yard, 11-touchdown season for the Trojans.
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He is currently the No. 13 overall player on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board, just down from his peak of No. 12 early in February.
He's also the third receiver on the board, following Ohio State's Carnell Tate (No. 7) and Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson (No. 10). Tyson, still recovering from a late-season injury, also did not perform athletic testing at the combine, so his stock and Lemon's may both be dealing with a high amount of uncertainty right now. Tate didn't run out of the stadium, but seemingly solidified his stock as WR1 with a 4.53-second 40-yard dash while his closest competition stayed on the sideline.
Washington's Denzel Boston (No. 20) and Texas A&M's KC Concepcion (No. 27) are the other wide receivers that currently have first-round grades, but they also did not run the 40-yard dash in Indy.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Reports: Potential Steelers First-Rd WR Option 'Bombed' Combine Interviews
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